Graça Machel DBE HonFBA is a Mozambican politician and humanitarian. She is the widow of former President of Mozambique Samora Machel and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela. Machel is an international advocate for women's and children's rights and was made an honorary British Dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 for her humanitarian work. She is the only woman in modern history to have served as First Lady of two countries, South Africa and Mozambique.
Graça Machel is a member of the Africa Progress Panel, a group of ten distinguished individuals who advocate at the highest levels for equitable and sustainable development in Africa. As a panel member she facilitates coalition building to leverage and broker knowledge, and convenes decision-makers to influence policy for lasting change in Africa.
She was chancellor of the University of Cape Town between 1999 and 2019.